Question for all you hardcore road runners out there.

[HobbyMan]

Well today a thought poped into my head. I want to take a road trip soon. I am on a very limited budget because I am preparing for college. Obviously hotels/motels are out of the question and I don't like them any way. State parks are nice but they are usually a ways away from major roads. In short of throwing a sleeping bag down at a rest stop which is dangerous, what can I do?

[malber]

Depends on where you want to go. State parks are definitely a good idea. You may also want to check out privately run campgrounds. Try this one:

http://www.koa.com/

I see them everywhere.

[randy]

Why don't you plan your trip around cities where fellow XS's live, and draw on their hospitality. One night should be do-able even if you have to sleep on the floor!

[mro]

where fellow XS's live

Would be willing to clean out the front room, space for a couple of XSers for an over-nighter, probably whip up a BBQ too.


mro

[HobbyMan]

I guess it would be a leech/loafer run

[Pat Kelly]

If you're not squeemish you can stealth camp in cemetaries. I know some people that bicycle toured and would do that often.

[MartyA]

If you are a little bold and not too shy,

Read a story about two guys who zig-zagged across the country on their motorcycles. They slept on picnic tables each night at roadside rests / picnic areas - not the ones on the interstates, they are patrolled and you are not allowed to stop for more than 2 hrs. Carry a good sleeping bag and one of those self-inflating thin mattresses.

Every other day or so they would look for a motel with outdoor entries that had the cleaning cart and run in and give the cleaning lady a couple of bucks to let them shower and shave before she cleaned the room.

[old_bartender]

Here at the home of the old_bartender. there is room for any member. Room for the bike and rider under a roof. if you make it to Minnesota. You would be wecome. Here we have something you won"ty find anywere else (MINNESOTA NICE)

[old_bartender]

Alot of small towns have campground. you might find some great time there

[planedick]

Cross country

Rode from CA to NY once, spent 3.5 weeks just looking at scenery and many side trips. Get off the interstate and you find lots of country roads that parralell them and nice camping places along little creeks and such. Usually some farmer's land and if you don't build campfires, and put the bike out of sight, nobody knows you're there. Sometimes under little bridges are nice too. Every couple of days I did get a room though, like to shower sometimes.

[skipt]

road trip soon

Most fun motorcycle trip I ever had was just riding untill I stopped
and finding a camp ground for the night . Throw down a sleeping bag and that was it. Getting off the major road/highway is not
necessarily a bad thing. Much more quiet and peaceful. KOA's
can work or check Woodall's for a list of campgrounds on your
entended route. DO it and have fun.

[prometheus578]

Sleep on the tables during the day, sleep under the tables at night so "they" can't get at ya.

A lot of good ideas already. I liked the one about the maid and the shower. I mean, I only get motels for the shower in the morning, anyway.
Rest areas I don't really care for. It's not like you can roll up the windows and lock the doors...
Park in the rear of closed gas stations and sleep up on their roof.(learned that from an old hitch-hiker.)
Try to find a place to bed down before it gets dark. Ever sleep on an ant hill?
Bring a mesh hammock to keep your arse offa the ground.
Take an exit offa the highway)like a "ranch exit" for those in western states) and cruise a little till you find a group of trees. Leave the bike on the road, and walk the ground to your hidaway. Make sure you can ride in, and ride out without dumping the bike.
Bring an old camouflaged army poncho and some bungee cords. String it up if it rains, or use it to cover the bike to hide the shiney, reflective bits.

But, ya know... sometimes nothing beats a bed, a heated room and a shower.

[trbig]

Several of the truck stops will let you take a shower for like 5 bucks last time I tried it. Flying J truck stops always seemed nicer than the Loves. Alot of the state campgrounds have showers available also if you pitch a tent.. usually around 8 bucks here for the undeveloped lots.

Tod

[dale_1]

good ideas all

My mother used to tell me if I ever got stuck and had to....... the cemetary at night was the safest place. Most undesirables are skittish about cemetaries.

Course, you could always do what ya did here........ borrow an XSive's yard for your tent and shower in the am or pm and hang out and watch tv with 'em etc etc....... I'm sure I ain't the only one that'd give up my couch for you.



in fact I can't think of any XSive I wouldn't do that for....... 'cept maybe Tod

[trbig]

See Mark... for once you're right. I'd kick one of my kids out of their room and make THEM sleep on the couch and give Andrew a bed. Us Okies are a bit nicer than those Texicans! lol..

Tod